AMSTERDAM LOEKI STARDUST QUARTET

Period

Genre

Online

Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet

The Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet is an internationally acclaimed recorder quartet that regularly tours in Europe, the United States and Japan. In their concerts and CDs, they explore – at times in a decidedly non-conformist manner – the limits of the recorder repertoire. Two of their CDs have received Edison ...Full biography

Mentioned in the biography of

Biography Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet

The Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet is an internationally acclaimed recorder quartet that regularly tours in Europe, the United States and Japan. In their concerts and CDs, they explore – at times in a decidedly non-conformist manner – the limits of the recorder repertoire. Two of their CDs have received Edison awards. Among the composers who dedicated works to them are Tristan Keuris, Riohei Hirose, Pete Rose, Chiel Meijering, Peter Jan Wagemans, Daan Manneke, Philip Warton and Lera Auerbach. The quartet's reputation is built upon the great variety of sounds it produces. To this end, they employ an exceptionally large collection or recorders of all sizes and styles and in various tunings. The smallest is a sopranino, the largest a nearly 3-metre-long sub contrabass. In addition to performing, they also produce music editions published by Moeck Verlag. Their contact with recorder makers has stimulated the development of new instruments. The quartet's name comes from one of the first arrangements they played: the Loeki the Lion melody from Dutch television's STER advertisements.

1978

The Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet give their first concert in Amsterdam. The members of the quartet are students in the English consort music class of Walter van Hauwe and Kees Boeke at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. They study the various recorders with these two teachers.

1981

They win the Musica Antiqua Competition in Bruges with Second Place – the jury denies them First Place because Paul Leenhouts presents an arrangement of a Stevie Wonder song, which violates the competition's rules. The quartet signs a contract with Decca, and their first album is a great success.

1987

They perform for the royal family with the ensemble Sour Cream – Frans Brüggen, Kees Boeke and Walter van Hauwe.

2001

Paul Leenhouts leaves the ensemble and is replaced by Daniël Koschitzki.

2002

The Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet releases the first recorder arrangement of Bach's complete The Art of the Fugue on CD. The music magazine Luister gives the CD a perfect 10.

2005

Andrea Ritter replaces Bertho Driever. The Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst [Fund for the Creation of Music] commissions a composition from Corrie van Binsbergen. She writes a piece for recorder quartet and string quartet titled Elementaire Deeltjes – the title is a play on words that could mean both Basic Particles and Elementary Movements. The Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet and the Mondriaan Quartet premiere the piece on April 3 at the Vredenburg Music Centre in Utrecht.

2007

In November, discord in the ensemble leads to a decision to dissolve the group. In December, the four original members decide to celebrate the ensemble's thirty-year existence with a farewell tour of renowned concert halls.

2008

The original Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet accompanies Queen Beatrix on a state visit to Latvia. A festive concert is held on October 26 at the Amstel Chuch in Amsterdam. Channel Classics presents The Loeki Files, a CD and DVD of the highlights of the quartet's 30 years.

2009

On a jubilee tour, the quartet visits the United States and various countries in Asia.

Fade Control

The Loeki Files

Loeki Stardust Collection

Act

Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet

Type and year

CD, 2009

Label

Newton Classics, NC8802044

In the discography you will find all recordings that have been released listed chronologically. We restrict ourselves to the title, the type of audio, year of publication or recording, label, list of guest musicians, plus any comments on the issue.